Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), the national school-based, peer-to-peer prevention, education and activism organization, has announced that Michelle Gao, of Tustin, has been named to the SADD National Student Leadership Council for the 2013-2014 school year.

Chosen from a nationwide pool of highly qualified applicants, she joins 10 other council members who will represent the hundreds of thousands of SADD students in chapters across the country.

"Michelle's leadership and her work and dedication to issues affecting teens make her a great choice to join SADD's National Student Leadership Council," said Penny Wells, president and chief executive officer of SADD. "We will now rely on Michelle to use her experiences on the state and local levels to help guide our organization as we work nationally to develop programs that will positively influence teens when it comes to choices about alcohol and other drug use, as well as other potentially destructive behaviors."

The Student Leadership Council advises the SADD National Board of Directors on policies and programs, plans and implements the annual SADD National Conference, and serves as a national and regional student representation network. Members of the Student Leadership Council represent SADD at local, regional, and national events and engagements.

Being an active SADD member for three years, she has served as the president of her high school chapter this year and will continue to do so next year.

Active in a multitude of SADD activities, she has served on the California State SLC, overseeing the state's social media presence. An exemplary student, Gao has also been active in community groups that include the Girl Scouts of Orange County, and she is a regular volunteer for the Katie Wheeler Library. In addition, Gao serves as the captain of the Beckman High School Color/Winter Guard which she joined as a freshman. Gao will begin her term at the SADD National Conference in Orlando Florida, in June.

The SADD chapter was established in Beckman High four years ago under the sponsorship of DCH Tustin Acura. Each year, the DCH Auto Group provides scholarship funds to send students in the SADD clubs to attend the national conference. The dealership also helped the clubs participate in many community events to raise funds as well as spread the message of teen safe driving throughout the year. Michelle will be one of the 10 students attending the national conference from the Tustin area this year.

"Being selected for the SADD National Student Leadership Council is a great honor, one that is well deserved and brings great pride to our state and local organizations that have worked so hard to educate teens about responsible decision-making," said Justin McBride, SADD state contact for California. "Michelle has been an exceptional leader for SADD in California, working hard to ensure that teens are aware of the perils of reckless and distracted driving, underage drinking, and other drug use. We are confident she will thrive as an educator and an important advocate for teens nationwide."

SADD is a national peer-to-peer youth education, prevention and activism organization, committed to empowering young people to lead initiatives in their schools and communities.

Founded in 1981, today SADD has thousands of chapters in middle schools, high schools, and colleges across the country. SADD highlights prevention of many destructive behaviors and attitudes that are harmful to young people, including underage drinking, substance abuse, risky and impaired driving, and teen violence and suicide.

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